Pearl McShane

Interviewed by William Xu

Grade

Mediums

2-D Art (Collage and Painting)

Classes Taken at Harriton

Art 9H, Art 1H, Art 2H, AP 2-D Art and Design

Self Introduction

I’m a painter and collager, and I dabble in other things too. I like to do things based on nature and women.

Interview

Art Focused Questions:

Between collaging and painting, do you prefer one over the other?

Not really, I like them pretty evenly. It depends on what suits my vision better when working on something.

Since collage is a less well-known artistic medium, what was it like working with it? Can you go over the typical process?

Sure! Typically, when I start, I have a concept in mind, and then I'll start ripping through magazines, tearing out pages, and finding things. Also, a lot of times, I'll just start by looking through a magazine, finding something that inspires me, and then creating something from that instead of having a pre-existing concept in my head. Then it's obvious; I just cut it up and glue it together to make something new.

Would you say that collage is a medium that involves a lot of planning, or is it a medium that you can often just “go for it”?

It depends. You could plan it out a lot, but I find that you can just go with the flow. If you do something and you don't like it, you can cover it up with something else because there's a lot of layering involved.

What are some typical frustrations during the collaging process?

For example, I haven't planned out the whole thing for the one I'm working on. I just started on the face. I was planning as I went along. So I feel like one of my things is that when I'm "decision making" about a piece, I get a little like, "I can't undo it if I do something I don't like." But then I thought about it, and I was like, "I kind of can since I can just cover it up for something else."

Do you have any artistic styles you're really interested in learning about in general?

I admire many super-realistic oil paintings. However, I don't know if I want to do that in the future because I've tried it, and it took forever. It's so hard.

I also like pieces that use imagery in interesting ways. Anika Tull has this really cool piece that's a human heart but taken out of context and put into different situations. I like things like that, even though I just said I like realistic things. I mean, I admire those on the level that I know how hard they are to create, but the things that inspire me most and that I aim to make are more fantastical and out of the box.

Any favorite artist(s)?

I like Gustav Klimt. His pieces are colorful and have a unique style using patterns and touches of gold that I think is cool.

How do you get ideas? Do you make a mind map or do you find mentor artists?

I definitely like to get inspiration from artists. But a lot of the times I'll get this random idea, and then I'll write it down and save it for later. I get an image in my brain, and then I think of how I could create that myself and make it look interesting.

Do you have a favorite art-related quote?

My mom told me this one. I wonder if she came up with it: "Organizing people is like organizing cats. Organizing artists is like organizing fast cats."

In my experience, many artists may not be that organized; they just have their own vision that they want to follow. So, getting artists to agree on something collectively is really hard. I definitely found that out when we were doing the mural design for Harriton. There were so many artists with so many different voices, opinions, and styles.

So you mentioned that nature and women are the two primary themes that you focus on. Can you give me an example of how you themes are demonstrated in your works?

Well, certain aspects of nature are always really beautiful, like flowers. I also like butterflies because I'm really into them. They're all different, but they all have similarities. In the piece that I'm currently working on, I haven't exactly decided on what it means, but I really like that whenever I bring in a human element, I usually try to bring in feminine elements because I hope to have a strong connection with my own femininity and identity. That's a big part of it.

How do you see yourself in your art? Do you often depict yourself, perhaps in nature, in your collages or paintings?

I know that this is true of a lot of other artists that I am friends with or that I know. You often add yourself when you want to have a person in your piece in whatever environment you've created. The face just kind of turns into me because I know my own features well. It's kind of fun putting yourself into a different environment or drawing out how you see yourself.

How do you plan to continue your practices in the future? Perhaps in college?

I'm not going to art school specifically. I'm going to a Liberal Arts college that is heavy in the arts but not exclusive. I want to explore different types of art and learn more about film, literature, and theater because I feel like these are different ways that people tell stories.

I'm also going to be working on some murals this summer with mural artists. It's always cool to get to know other artists and see how they forged their way through this challenging industry to be financially successful but also in ways that are fulfilling to them. I think it's cool to meet adult artists who have figured that out.

Any advices for those that want to get involved in art but are unsure of pursuing a career due to its often unpromising financial aspects?

This isn't even just art; if you care about anything that you want to make it your life and it is something you're really passionate about, it's worth following even though it might be hard sometimes financially. I know a lot of people struggle because their parents might not think it is the safest path which is kind of fair. I mean, I kind of got lucky because I don't have to deal with that. My parents were supportive of me being an artist because they are artists, but I also saw how you can make a path in art. My dad grew up working class, but he worked really, really hard to get to do what he really loves doing. He went all the way up to the point of pre-med because he was so sure that he was going to become a doctor, and then he had this crazy experience when he was like, "Oh my god, I need to be an artist, what am I doing with my life?" I feel like seeing those examples definitely helped me understand how to create a space in the art world, and I think you have to really care about it and really work for it

Does your family heavily influence your art?

I think so. I don't make portraits of my family or anything like that. They don't influence me in that way, but I think that my interest in putting nature into my art is definitely inspired by my parents, especially my mom, because she does a lot of art around environmental issues and finding ways to focus on nature and make it beautiful. Not that you really have to try that hard to make nature beautiful; it kind of just is. She has this one mural, which is of a woman whose hair is part of a waterfall. This piece that I'm working on is probably kind of inspired by that. Sometimes, the influence is subconscious. It's a way to show the connection between people, nature, and the world.

As a kid, I was also really inspired by my brother's art because he has really interesting creative ideas. If you ever look through one of his sketchbooks, you will feel inspired by his creativity.

Less Art-Focused Questions:

Are you comfortable sharing your taste in music? How does music influence your art making process, if any?

I don't know how to describe my musical taste. I'm going to tell you artists that I like: I really like Hoelscher, Boy Genius, and Chappell Roan. I like pop music a lot, too, like Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter. Music sets the bar when you're working on art. I'm sure to have my headphones on every time to be in the zone, and I have some playlists for when you're making art or when you're studying. They get you into the right mindset and make you feel creative and more energetic. Music plays a big part. I have probably like over 250 playlists right now.

What clubs or electives do you take at Harriton, if you mind sharing?

I am the president of the National Art Honors Society. I've been heavily involved in theater. I spent all four years of high school in HTC, doing costumes, makeup, acting, and different things. Oh, and I'm in pitch, please, the acapella club, which is pretty fun. I am also a member of the Unity Mural Design Team.

Do you have a favorite place in the Philadelphia area that you normally go to?

I often go to the Cynwyd Trail because it's near my house but also leads straight to Manayunk. And I've definitely hung out there a lot with my friends when they're home from college. So it's kind of special in that way because we all grew up around the same area, and even though they're kind of moving in different places in the world, and I'm about to be moving somewhere else too, I feel like we'll always meet up again in that area.

Speed Round

Favorite food?

Pho

Favorite drink?

Iced coffee

Favorite restaurant?

Vietnam in Philly

Favorite Pizza place?

Couch Tomato

Favorite Ice Cream Topping?

Jimmies as my father would say but like sprinkles for normal people.

Favorite Animal?

Butterflies or jellyfish. They're both pretty cool.

Favorite Song?

It changes but right now it's “Supergraphic Ultra Modern Girl” by Chappell Roan.

Favorite Color?

Blue.

Favorite Movie?

“Emma”

Hobby?

Amateur film watching

Favorite Book?

Pride and Prejudice